Trans Main Characters
Manga
For all my bitches and bros and non-binary hoes. 🏳️⚧️
Focus here is on manga where either a main character is trans or a significant story arc focuses on trans characters and issues of trans identity. Otoko no ko and crossdressing series will be ignored unless there are explicit trans messaging in there. Likewise, gender-bending series that approach sex change on supernatural terms (Boku Girl) or through sci-fi mechanics (11-nin iru!) will likely be ignored unless there's some sort of grounding element that makes queer identity explicit. Finally, any series that's just like, blatantly transphobic (F. Compo) will be ignored. Some wording will be vague to avoid spoilers.
In order:
- Claudine! (1978) - Transman protagonist
- Stop! Hibari-kun (1981) - Transwoman love interest/deuteragonist
- Paros no Ken (1986) - Transman protagonist
- Double House (1998) - Transwoman protagonist
- Hourou Musuko (2002) - Everyone's trans
- Boku wa, Onnanoko (2003) - Transwoman protagonist in titular story
- Homunculus (2003) - Important transwoman character
- IS - Otoko Demo Onna Demo Nai Sei (2004) - Trans and intersex protagonists
- J no Subete (2004) - Transwoman protagonist
- Ai no Shintairiku (2004) - Transwoman protagonist
- Densen Complex (2006) - Transwoman love interest/deuteragonist in Love Horizon
- Mascara Blues (2007) - Transwoman protagonist in "So I Can Be Myself - A Long Dream"
- Yuureitou (2010) - Transman protagonist
- Smells Like Green Spirit (2011) - Transwomen protagonists
- Bokura no Hentai (2012) - Transwoman protagonist
- Kodomo wa Wakatte Agenai (2014) - Important transwoman character
- Shimanami Tasogare (2015) - Multiple trans characters
- Umareru Seibetsu wo Machigaeta! (2016) - Transwoman autobiography
- Kono Koi ni Mirai wa nai (2016) - Transwoman protagonist
- Hanayome wa Motodanshi. (2016) - Transwoman autobiography
- Boku ga Watashi ni Naru Tame ni (2016) - Transwoman autobiography
- Fukakai na Boku no Subete o (2018) - Non-binary protagonist, everyone's trans
- Kanojo ni Naritai Kimi to Boku (2018) - Transwoman protagonist
- Boys Run the Riot (2020) - Transman protagonist
Focus here is on manga where either a main character is trans or a significant story arc focuses on trans characters and issues of trans identity. Otoko no ko and crossdressing series will be ignored unless there are explicit trans messaging in there. Likewise, gender-bending series that approach sex change on supernatural terms (Boku Girl) or through sci-fi mechanics (11-nin iru!) will likely be ignored unless there's some sort of grounding element that makes queer identity explicit. Finally, any series that's just like, blatantly transphobic (F. Compo) will be ignored. Some wording will be vague to avoid spoilers.
In order:
- Claudine! (1978) - Transman protagonist
- Stop! Hibari-kun (1981) - Transwoman love interest/deuteragonist
- Paros no Ken (1986) - Transman protagonist
- Double House (1998) - Transwoman protagonist
- Hourou Musuko (2002) - Everyone's trans
- Boku wa, Onnanoko (2003) - Transwoman protagonist in titular story
- Homunculus (2003) - Important transwoman character
- IS - Otoko Demo Onna Demo Nai Sei (2004) - Trans and intersex protagonists
- J no Subete (2004) - Transwoman protagonist
- Ai no Shintairiku (2004) - Transwoman protagonist
- Densen Complex (2006) - Transwoman love interest/deuteragonist in Love Horizon
- Mascara Blues (2007) - Transwoman protagonist in "So I Can Be Myself - A Long Dream"
- Yuureitou (2010) - Transman protagonist
- Smells Like Green Spirit (2011) - Transwomen protagonists
- Bokura no Hentai (2012) - Transwoman protagonist
- Kodomo wa Wakatte Agenai (2014) - Important transwoman character
- Shimanami Tasogare (2015) - Multiple trans characters
- Umareru Seibetsu wo Machigaeta! (2016) - Transwoman autobiography
- Kono Koi ni Mirai wa nai (2016) - Transwoman protagonist
- Hanayome wa Motodanshi. (2016) - Transwoman autobiography
- Boku ga Watashi ni Naru Tame ni (2016) - Transwoman autobiography
- Fukakai na Boku no Subete o (2018) - Non-binary protagonist, everyone's trans
- Kanojo ni Naritai Kimi to Boku (2018) - Transwoman protagonist
- Boys Run the Riot (2020) - Transman protagonist